HC Deb 05 February 1993 vol 218 cc372-3W
Ms. Walley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list those categories of people eligible to qualify for EC butter and EC meat.

Mr. Curry

People in receipt of income support, family credit, disability working allowance, the homeless and destitute and those living in welfare hostels are eligible to receive food under the arrangements for implementing the EC surplus food scheme in the United Kingdom.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will meet a delegation of pensioners from Stoke on Trent, North to discuss eligibility for EC butter and meat.

Mr. Curry

I have no plans to do so. I am aware of the views expressed by pensioners. To extend the scheme to all pensioners would spread the available food so thinly that it would be of little benefit to anyone.

Ms. Walley

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the amount of(a) butter and (b) meat which will be destroyed because of non-take up by those deemed eligible.

Mr. Curry

None. The Intervention Board Executive Agency arranges reallocation among other designated organisations for distribution to eligible categories of people.